The Preaching Platform

Psalm 91: A Message of Hope

March 19, 2020 / Palitha Jayasooriya

A photo of the Holy Bible opened to the book of Psalms.

Introduction to Psalm 91

When Covid-19 swept across almost all borders, fear and anxiety gripped hearts around the world. No one seemed safe anymore and everyone was searching for methods of protection. Today, we face new and dangerous challenges. In times of crisis, however, the children of God, as it has happened right through history, can find encouragement and comfort through the promises of God. One such passage people often turn to for comfort is Psalm 91.

As I look at social media today, I find many people sharing either the entire passage of Psalm 91 or at least parts of it, to strengthen others. Through this article, I would like to share my thoughts as well regarding this beautiful Psalm. Do keep your Bible open to Psalm 91 as you read.

Sermon : Four Steps to Win the Battle Over Worry (Matthew 6:25-34)

April 22, 2017 / Palitha Jayasooriya / 7 Comments

Introduction

A man was constantly worrying that somebody was under his bed. He went to a Counselor who was willing to help him, but at a high fee, over many months. A few weeks later the Counselor met the man on the street and asked him why he had not returned. The man replied, “I met a friend who gave me some great advice for free. It worked perfectly’. The Counselor asked what advice had been given him and the man replied, ‘He asked me to cut the legs of the bed down to ground level”!

How much we worry and how many of our worries are unfounded? Unhealthy worrying can cripple us to the point of making us ineffective and unable to cope with life’s challenges. It can also lead to depression. We worry over sickness, viruses, finances, family, children, salt, sugar, unforeseen dangers and many other things.

Devotional for Palm Sunday: The Lord Needs It

April 8, 2017 / Palitha Jayasooriya / 2 Comments

Visual of a Palm Leaf indicating that the article is based around Palm Sunday.

A Devotional For Palm Sunday:

After finishing schooling, I found employment as an Executive in a company that sold electronic products and vehicles. I had hopes of building a career in the secular world until the Lord began to place His call upon my life. His call grew over time to the point that I knew my future was not in secular employment, but in full-time Christian Ministry. Therefore, after 6 years of employment, I obeyed His voice, resigned from my job and gave my future into the hands of the One who called me. I have never regretted that decision. In fact, I wonder where my life might have taken me, if I hadn’t obeyed His voice.

God’s Restoration of the Lost Years : Sermon (Isaiah 54)

January 12, 2016 / Palitha Jayasooriya / 2 Comments

Sermon : God’s Restoration of the Lost Years

Arugam Bay, Sri Lanka – Photo Credit: Vasantha Jayasooriya

INTRODUCTION

Let me begin this sermon on God’s restoration with the following illustration.

One of the historical wonders of Sri Lanka is the complex rock fortress, Sigiriya, and the palace built on it by one of our former Kings, Kasyapa, many centuries ago. It is an amazing place to see & tourists flock there to view its beauty, grandeur and craftsmanship. One of the highlights of Sigiriya is the frescoes that are painted on the rock walls. These and the site itself are considered National treasures, with UNESCO listing Sigiriya as a world heritage site. (If ever you come over to Sri Lanka, you need to visit Sigiriya).

Many years ago, some of the frescoes were vandalized by an unknown group of people, with, (if I remember correctly), either ink or paint being thrown, to deface them. As a result, many experts had to be brought in (foreign and local), to work at restoring these frescoes back to their original state. Thankfully, they succeeded in most of their painstaking efforts.

5 Foundations To Build A Blessed Family

October 18, 2015 / Palitha Jayasooriya / 15 Comments

Image credit: Evil Erin

Introduction

Many buildings that look strong on the outside develop cracks and some collapse, due to the foundation being weak. Bad foundations produce bad buildings! It’s no different with building a blessed family. Didn’t the Lord Jesus Himself give us the parable of the house on the Rock and the one on sand (Matthew 7:24-27)? The house on the Rock stood firm because it had the right foundation.

In this article, I would like to share what I believe are 5 vital foundations for building a blessed family. They are:

Sermon: The Tragic Side of a Triumphant Event ( A Sermon for Palm Sunday -Luke 19)

March 4, 2015 / Palitha Jayasooriya / 0 Comments

Palm Sunday Sermon: The tragic side of a triumphant event

Introduction

I read a story about a plainly dressed man who went into a church in the Netherlands one Sunday and took a seat near the pulpit. Soon a woman came along and curtly told the man that he was seated in ‘her seat’. She then asked him to leave the seat. The man apologized and apparently moved away to a pew reserved for the poor, from where he took part in the service.

Palm Sunday Sermon – A Colt, a Command, and a Cleansing (Mark 11)

February 17, 2023 / Palitha Jayasooriya / 0 Comments

A visual of palm leaves to highlight the topic of the sermon outline which is Palm Sunday.

Introduction to Sermon Outline:

Draw a comparison between a royal wedding and Jesus’ entry to Jerusalem as King on Palm Sunday. What are the similarities you see? What are the differences?

This sermon outline is based around 3 events that are connected to the Palm Sunday story.

1. Palm Sunday is symbolized by a colt (Mark 11:1-10)

*Jesus sent two disciples to a nearby village where they would find a colt that no man had ridden. (verse 1-2)

* They were to untie the colt and bring it to Jesus. If anyone were to ask what they were doing, they were to say that the Lord needed it and would return it shortly. (verse 2-6).

*It is noteworthy that Jesus was going to return the colt to its owner (verse 3).

* Jesus rode into Jerusalem on the colt in the midst of praise (verse 7-10), fulfilling an Old Testament prophecy confirming that He was Messiah and King. This is what the prophet Zechariah said.

“Rejoice greatly, Daughter Zion! Shout, Daughter Jerusalem! See, your king comes to you, righteous and victorious, lowly and riding on a donkey, on a colt, the foal of a donkey. (Zechariah 9:9)

* Highlight that Jesus’ kingship began with humility and sacrifice

Application from point 1 :

This Palm Sunday is Jesus the king of your entire life? If not, allow Him to be so.

Illustration: Share the moment when Jesus became your Savior.

Strength From God’s Word – Episode 2 – ‘Delays are not Denials.’

February 11, 2023 / Palitha Jayasooriya / 0 Comments

Podcast on ‘Delays are not Denials’.

This message based on the book of Esther chapters 2 and 6, encourages us to believe in God’s timing when we face delayed answers to our prayers. It is a 2.30′-minute podcast that will encourage you to trust God in prayer. For another similar podcast click here. If you are blessed by this podcast, please do subscribe to our You Tube channel here. Thanks.

Strength From God’s Word – Episode 1: ‘Take it to the Lord in Prayer’

February 4, 2023 / Palitha Jayasooriya / 0 Comments

Strength From God’s Word Podcast – Prayer

This is Episode 1 of a new podcast series on The Preaching Platform called ‘Strength From God’s Word’. This 2+ minute podcast encourages us to always take our challenges to the Lord in prayer, before we look at other solutions. May it encourage you to trust God through your daily challenges. If you have been blessed by this podcast, we would request you to subscribe to our You Tube channel here. Thanks.

For more teaching on seeking God click here.

For a similar podcast click here.

Strength From God’s Word – Episode 5: God’s Goodness in the New Year (Psalm 65:11)

February 1, 2023 / Palitha Jayasooriya / 0 Comments

Video on God’s Goodness

A 2-minute podcast to give you encouragement to face the year ahead!

Another 2-3 minute weekly podcast to bring encouragement for your daily challenges. This is Episode 5 to give you encouragement to face the year ahead! It is based around the promise God gave His people in Deuteronomy 65:11.

If this podcast has been a blessing to you, we would request you to subscribe to our You Tube channel here.

For a similar episode click here.

To download another sermon on God’s care click here.

“God’s Care for you in the New Year” (Deuteronomy 11:12) – Episode 6

January 31, 2023 / Palitha Jayasooriya / 0 Comments

Podcast on God’s Care:

We have started a 2-3 minute weekly podcast to bring encouragement for people’s daily challenges. This is Episode 6 to give you encouragement to face the year ahead! It is based around the promise God gave His people in Deuteronomy 11:12, as they prepared to enter the promised land.

Episodes 1-5 will be published over the next 2 weeks.

For a similar episode click here.

For another sermon on ‘God’s Goodness’, click here.

3 Vital Questions in the Christmas Story

December 15, 2022 / Palitha Jayasooriya / 0 Comments

An image of Christmas decorations to draw attention to the Christmas story.

Introduction to sermon on ‘Questions in the Christmas Story’ :

When I was much younger, there was a song that used to play on the Radio that I liked very much. It was titled ‘There are more questions than answers’ sung by Reggae singer Johnny Nash. The song asked a few questions like ‘what is life?’, ‘how do we live?’, ‘what should we take?’, and ‘how much should we give?’

Questions are very much a part of life and asking questions can help us increase our knowledge. There are many types of questions we ask. For instance, some of you may be asking some very personal questions right now, like, ‘Will I get a salary bonus this year?’, ‘How much will it be?’, ‘will my medical tests come out all right?’ (I had first-hand experience of this when I prepared this sermon as my wife and 2 sons were down with viral fever with one of my sons having to be hospitalized. There was tension with each blood report of his that came in, due to the threat of dengue fever).

Nehemiah – Restoring The Ruined Walls

July 12, 2022 / Palitha Jayasooriya / 0 Comments

Outline of a sermon preached at the People’s Church in June 2022.

Introduction – It is said that Thomas Edison lost much of his work due to a severe fire in his lab. It happened at a time when money was in short supply and Edison was in his senior years. His son was worried as to how his father would handle the great loss. Edison’s response however was, “we will build bigger and better on the ruins!”

Background to the Book of Nehemiah:

Nehemiah (meaning – ‘The Lord comforts’) was cupbearer to the King of Persia. He received news that the walls of Jerusalem were still broken and in ruins, with the gates burned down (Nehemiah 1:3).

This meant that the city would most probably face insults and mocking from surrounding nations. Also, that Jerusalem would be in great danger, and vulnerable to enemy attacks. The people were living in disgrace.

Many Waters To Cross (Video)

April 7, 2022 / Palitha Jayasooriya / 0 Comments

Many Waters to Cross – This is a short excerpt (including a prayer) taken off a sermon I preached at the Peoples’ Church in Colombo on the last Sunday of 2021. To watch the full sermon click the link below. https://youtu.be/dm0F-NvilIY